7 week old babysitting - is this something that people do?

The rule is iirc
Max 1 under age 1
Max 3 under age 3
Max 5 under age 5
Max 8 under age 8

And most CM will prioritise continuity of care for their mindees/ balance of kids that suits their family and working style over maxing out earning potential. So they might have 2 kids reception age, two 3 year olds doing mornings in preschool and 4 older school kids - so absolute mayhem 3 pm onwards - but very quiet in the day.

Some CM I know only do school age kids - because babies and school age kids don't always combine so well - and the £35 per day demanding baby place doesn't stack up so favourably compared to having 8 after-schoolies at £10 each - and most of your time your own.

A drop-in baby would pay a higher hourly rate - and is relatively low responsibility compared to full time working parent scenario - I think many CM would bite OPs hand off.

Under 5's and after-school kids are counted differently 5, so there is no need to have a 'school hours' baby in order to free a place for a school-age child. All it will do is eat up the valuable 'under one' slot, for four hours a day, when they could have a baby 8am-6pm.

CM.

It often suits them to have a 'school hours' mindee - so they have space for after-school kids.

Also, fixed four hours, the same three days a week feels like employment to me. This is something to be aware of; if it's flexible and ad hoc I think it would be fine for the person to be self-employed. I wonder whether going down the full employment route, with contracts, registering as an employer, etc and all that malarky is something you'd want to do?

If you're in Glasgow I'll do it for you! I'm a nanny of school age kids and would love to spend a few hours a week caring for a baby again.

Have you thought of contacting your local college/ training center for help at home, when you want time off indoors? When I was training as a nursery nurse we had these lovely home placements where we would spend a couple of days a week in a family with a new baby to get our baby experience. We were not left alone but more a mothers help.

If you can wait until 3 months you can use council gym creche for 2/3 hours, you don't have to stay on the premises in mine.

A post natal doula would be good. Doula uk have a search facility

You could put your location in here and see if anyone contacts you

I think you might have more choice if you made the hours flexible. Normally nannies do want fixed hours, but because this wouldn't be enough to be anyone's main job,you might need to fit around their existing commitments. You can still have Mon, Weds, Fri as set days, but just say 'can be flexible' or similar. Some flexibility is probably good for you too, you'll have more choice of when you can meet up with friends/go places etc.

Best way to find someone is word of mouth. Do you know people with nannies? Otherwise advertise locally or look on childcare.co.uk or gumtree.

I had a childminder for 1 morning slot a week when my twins were a little older...I felt so guilty about their 2 year old brother I needed time just for him!
She just happened to have a slot available between schoolrunduties and lived very near. I got her name from council child services information service.

Just be aware that with growth spurts etc you're unlikely to be able to have that 4 hours between feeds with any certainty so you'll need a back up plan.

"Flexible babysitter" I'd say - there's be LOADS of SAHMs whose dc are now in school, who'd love to pick up a few hours of that kind of work, and you'd probably be reassured that they had their own dc.
Or, as outraged says, a nanny whose charges are now at school but have been retained by the family.

I agree with outraged, I think your best bet is someone locally who either has an after school position or has their own children, or a nanny with a free day/half day.

You'd want someone local if its only two hours here and there.
I'd just put a card in the local library usually good nanny territory and/or a newsagents window. You'll obv want someone with newborn experience and a DBS check.

When mine were 7 weeks, I tended to get our mother's help to come with me to things as I don't think they had a bottle until about 10 weeks, in case they did need feeding.

I think you'll find someone easily. Your best bet is probably a nanny who has older children who are at school/nursery and has free time during the day. Newborn experience is hard to get for lots of nannies, so could be a beneficial arrangement for them. Whereabouts are you?

Maternity nurse?
Make sure whoever you get has newborn experience. Or you can use a nursery from 12 weeks

I think that's a babysitter job myself. And yes, why not for 8 hours a week? It would suit someone who just wants a few hours here and there. Anyone with either childcare experience or who has had a child of their own could do it.

You can advertise for a nanny yes. It's unlikely you will find someone for just x2 hours each day though as its a lot of effort to travel to you house and back for just x2 hours

You would be better off just asking for 8 hrs one day tbh. Then you can either arrange to meet nanny every 2/3 hours for feeds, or can leave nanny with bottles for a few feeds. Then nanny could take for walk for example whilst your at appointment, then meet in coffee shop whilst you feed, and then meet you back at house.